HR Manager - Hospitality

Job Purpose

The role of Manager – HR Operations entails complete leadership and accountability for the HR operations function. This includes overseeing activities such as talent acquisition, staff retention, onboarding and separation processes, as well as payroll coordination. The position demands a practical, hands-on HR generalist capable of instituting effective, compliant processes while nurturing an employee experience aligned with a dynamic, service-oriented setting. Experience in hospitality, restaurant, or leisure and entertainment sectors is highly valued due to the fast-paced and people-centric environment found in these industries.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership and consistently enhance end-to-end HR operations processes, policies, and standard operating procedures covering the entire employee lifecycle.
• Maintain accuracy and compliance of HR data within HRIS/SAP systems, including employee documentation like contracts and official letters.
• Serve as the primary escalation contact for employee inquiries related to HR policies, benefits, and administrative matters.
• Ensure strict adherence to UAE Labour Law, immigration regulations, and internal company policies.
• Prepare and deliver HR operational reports and dashboards (e.g., headcount, turnover, time-to-hire) for leadership review.

Talent Acquisition

• Handle full lifecycle recruitment efforts for both operational and corporate roles, collaborating with hiring managers to establish job requirements.
• Develop and maintain a talent pipeline focused on hospitality, retail, leisure, and entertainment sectors.
• Organize interviews, assessments, and the negotiation of offers, facilitating a seamless and positive applicant experience.
• Monitor recruitment performance indicators and report recruitment status against workforce planning.

Employee Retention

• Design and implement initiatives for staff retention, engagement activities, and career development opportunities.
• Analyze attrition rates, conduct exit interviews, and translate insights into effective retention strategies.
• Collaborate with department leaders to identify engagement challenges and enhance team culture.

Onboarding & Offboarding

• Manage all aspects of the onboarding process to ensure new employees are well-prepared, informed, and smoothly integrated.
• Oversee pre-boarding documentation, arrangement of IT/system access, orientational inductions, and probation monitoring.
• Administer the offboarding process, including exit formalities, clearance procedures, final settlements, and knowledge transfer.

Payroll Coordination

• Coordinate with Finance and Payroll departments on monthly payroll data to ensure new joiners, leavers, and employee changes are accurately reflected.
• Verify attendance records, leave, overtime, and benefit information for payroll processing accuracy.
• Address and resolve payroll inquiries from employees promptly.
• Support compliance with Wage Protection System (WPS) and statutory reporting obligations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related discipline; HR certifications such as CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent are desirable.
• At least 6 to 8 years of progressive experience in HR generalist roles, including 2 to 3 years in a managerial position.
• Prior experience in hospitality, restaurant, or leisure and entertainment industries is strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UAE Labour Law and HR compliance mandates.
• Practical experience using HRIS and payroll platforms like SAP SuccessFactors is advantageous.
• Track record of managing recruitment, retention, and full employee lifecycle in a fast-paced, multi-location environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Effective stakeholder management with strong influencing abilities across all organizational levels.
• Exceptional organizational aptitude with capacity to handle multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Proactive, service-oriented approach comfortable with strategic and hands-on operational responsibilities.
• Fluent English communication skills; knowledge of Arabic considered beneficial.
• Meticulous attention to detail and discretion in managing confidential employee and payroll information.

Location

Position is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.